Coaling chute



Nov. 9, 1948. r J. E. OBRIEN 2,453,253

COALING CHUTE Filed Dec. 2, 1944 I s Sheets-Sheet l {NVENTOR JAMES 5.0 BRI EN.

I A. L; Q f I\ v 4 J. E. OBRIEN COALING CHUTE Nov. 9, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JAMES E.OBRIEN.

BY wwfiz Filed Dec. 2, 1944 Patenteci Nov. 9,1948 v ooALING CHUTE James nosnen, Cleveland, .Qhio Application December 2, 1944, Serial No 566,289

solai l (01. 1931-18,).

The present invention relates to a coaling chute for railway locomotives, and more particularly to a cooling chute structure which may be used in conjunction with the existing type of coaling plants for more conveniently and advantageously directing the coal from the storage bin to th tender coal box of a locomotive.

Locomotive coaling plants now generally comprise coal storage structures disposed in elevated positions relative to the tracks and they are located at one side of a tracker they may extend over one or more tracks. Coal is fed by gravity from these storage structures by coaling gates which are often arranged to discharge coal transversely of the track, and open top aprons are provided for directing the coal downwardly into the locomotive tender. These aprons are incapable of directing the coal longitudinally relative to the track and, therefore, in order t'o'properly-distribute the coal throughout the tender coal box, it is necessary to move the locomotive several feet at a time two or three times during each coaling operation. This consumes considerable time and the locomotive and its equipment are subjected to considerable wearing and straining, particularly where the locomotive is attached to the train.

It is contemplated, by my invention, to provide a chute structure which may be readily attached to existing coaling plants having undercut, overcut or sidecut type gates without replacing the gates whereby the coal discharged by the usual coaling gates can be directed downwardly and longitudinally with respect to the railway track so that after the tender of the locomotive is once spotted, the stream of coal supplied to the tender can be directed throughout the length of the coal box of the tender for proper distribution of the coal without the necessity of changing the position of the locomotive. The time required for filing the locomotive tender is materially reduced and it is feasible to coal a locomotive while it is on the high speed track and attached to the train.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coal chute adapted for use with existing type of coal gates which extend laterally relative to the railway, which chute is closed and can be swung longitudinally of the railway so that the coal can be distributed throughout the tender coal box by swinging the chute.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the fireman, or other attendant of the locomotive, may swing. the coal chute to the desired position by mechanism located adjacent the locomotive tender.

Among the objects of my invention is the provision of an enclosed coaling chute supported for shifting movement relative to the track or ngitudinal dimension of the coal box of the tender with associated mechanism for effecting theoperationthereof; the provision of a construction which will be of sufficient rigidity and ruggedness to provide for such suspension and opera- .tion. of the coal chute under heavy tonnage dis charge conditions and thearrangement being such that the apparatus may be operated by an attendant or the locomotive fireman stationed on an operating platform of the coal hopper or tor/or structure. The operating platform may be located at any point convenient to observe filling of the coal .box while operating the apparatus. a

The apparatus may be-power driven or -manually: operated and .the entire arrangementis such thatyisibility of the coaldischarge is afforded the operator or fireman when stationed on the operating platform. I v Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from the following description of a preferred form of embodimentof the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Y Fig. 1 is an elevational View ofthe apparatus in relation to a hopper coal'gate as viewed from the track side; i a r Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 isan elevationalview of the-apparatus asviewed longitudinally o'f-the track; and

Fig.4'is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig; 3, but on a larger scale. v f i The coal chute to which my inventionis directed is particularly adaptable for use with existing coaling plant structures in' which a coal gate is provided that is disposed in an elevated position for directing coaldownwardlyand transverselyrelative to the railway trackscarrying the tender to be loaded by the coaling gate- The coal may be delivered to the'coalin gate by a storage structure located adjacent toth-e railway trackor the storage structure may extend over the track.- Also; coal'may; in some instances; be delivered to the coaling gate by an elevator mechanism. 'Alth'ough'the chute may be adaptablefor. use in connection with the varioustypes of plants mentioned. I have shownth'e chute adapted to an undercut typ'e'of coaling "gate that is fedcoal from a storage structure located adjacent to the railway track. Referring to the drawings, a coal storage'strud ture 5 is shown'in part; which structure is located adjacent a railroad track, not shown, and" in an elevated position so that the coal is several feet above the tender 6 of 'alocor'notive' on the track adjacent the structure; The structure {includes a sidewall 1 and a sloping bottom Well a An opening'9 is provided at the bottombi 'the structure and 'a coaling gate I'O of the unqe'r urjtyee extends from the opening9 in a dir'ection name vated coal discharging device arranged to discharge coal transversely relative to the railway track; a frame adapted to be secured on the outside of said structure adjacent the coal discharge device; a coal chute member having a coal inlet opening and a coal discharge opening arranged at substantially right angles to the plane of the coal inlet opening and a Wall interconnecting said openings, said wall being disposed opposite said coal discharging device; an axle member secured to the wall of said chute member concentric with said coal inlet opening; bearing means supported by said frame for supporting said axle member; a brace member extending laterally from said axle member to said wall of said chute and attached to said wall for bracing the chute against movement in a direction longitudinally of said axle; and means for swinging said chute about the axis of said axle.

2. In a coaling plant for railway locomotives and the like, a coal storage structure having a coal gate extending laterally and downwardly; a closed coal chute having an inlet opening adapted to surround said coal gate and a discharge opening adapted to discharge coal in a substantially vertical plane, said chute including a wall interconnecting said openings and being disposed opposite said coal gate for directing coal to said outlet; and means securing said chute in position relative to said gate solely by pivotally supporting said wall of the chute on an axis extending centrally of said inlet opening.

3. In a coaling plant for railway locomotives and the like, a coal storage structure having a coal gate extending laterally and downwardly; a closed coal chute having an inlet opening adapted to surround said coal gate and a discharge opening adapted to discharge coal in a substantially vertical plane, said chute including a wall interconnecting said openings and being disposed opposite said coal gate for directing coal to said outlet; and means securing said chute in position relative to said gate substantially solely comprising a frame attached to said structure and having a beam extending in said inlet and an arm extending adjacent to the outside of said wall of said chute, an axle member extending through said wall of the chute, said axle being supported by said beam and arm.

4. In a coaling plant for railway locomotives and the like, a coal storage structure having a coal gate extending laterally and downwardly; a closed coal chute having an inlet opening adapted to surround said coal gate and a discharge opening adapted to discharge coal in a substantially vertioal plane, said chute including a wall inter connecting said openings and being disposed opposite said coal gate for directing coal to said out let; and means securing said chute in position relative to said gate substantially solely comprising a frame attached to said structure and having a beam extending in said inlet and an arm extending adjacent to the outside of said wall of said chute, an axle member extending through said wall of the chute and connected integrally to said wall, bearings supported by said arm and beam, said axle being journalled in said bearings.

5. In a coaling plant for railway locomotives and the like, a coal storage structure having a coal gate extending laterally and downwardly; a closed coal chute having an inlet opening adapted to surround said coal gate and a discharge opening adapted to discharge coal in a substantially vertical plane, said chute including a wall interconnecting said openings and being disposed opposite said coal gate for directing coal to said outlet;

means securing said chute in position relative to said gate substantially solely comprising a frame attached to said structure and having a beam extending in said inlet and an arm extending adjacent to the outside of said wall of said chute, an axle member extending through said wall. of the chute, said axle being supported by said beam and arm; a strut extending laterally from the outer end of said axle and attached to said wall and the opposite end of said strut extending laterally from said axle in the opposite direction; and a counterweight at said opposite end of said strut.

JAMES E. OBRIEN.

REFERENCES GI'JTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 984,551 Freeland Feb. 21, 1911 1,863,028 Pardee s June 14, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 546,778 France Sept. 2, 1922 

